The government will be recruiting new policemen, soldiers and members for the Civil Protection Department in the coming weeks, the Home Affairs said.

Dr Michael Farrugia pledged big reforms in the prisons, the police corps, the army and towards the integration of migrants.

Speaking during a Gvern li Jisma session, Dr Farrugia said new vehicles will be bought to carry out more surveillance in areas like Marsa, Ħamrun, Birżebbuġa, Sliema and Paceville.

He said plans are also in the pipeline to stop police inspectors from acting as prosecutors to enable them to carry out more investigative work.

Dr Farrugia said there should be more respect towards the forces of the country, especially the police, where some officers have been attacked both physically and verbally.

He said the government was evaluating the possibility of introducing harsher penalties against those who abuse the police.